Rogers launches direct-to-consumers Sportsnet Now streaming service

The Globe and Mail's James Bradshaw writes:

"Rogers Communications Inc. will offer its popular Sportsnet television stations through a stand-alone streaming service, severing the ties that have bound live sports broadcasting to traditional television.

"Starting on April 1, the company will offer Sportsnet Now – an app that streams the live feeds from Sportsnet’s main regional TV stations, plus its One and 360 networks – as a separate online subscription costing $24.99 a month. Anyone can sign up, regardless of whether they get cable TV or are an existing customer with Rogers.

"The decision to detach coveted and expensive sports programming from the traditional TV system – which remains the financial engine for broadcasters and media companies such as Rogers Media – is a leap of faith for the industry, and carries some risk."
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CBC Announces new series and renewed programs for 2016-2017

Innovative new series include drama The Council, docu-series The School and True North Calling, comedy Four In The Morning, and crime miniseries Caught, based on the acclaimed book by Lisa Moore. Returning titles include Murdoch Mysteries and Heartland for their tenth seasons and new seasons of The Romeo Section, Hello Goodbye, This Life, Canada's Smartest Person, X Company, Exhibitionists, Interrupt This Program and Crash Gallery.
 Full media release

Judge rules Vice reporter must hand over digital messages

An Ontario court has ruled that a VICE News reporter must hand over all communications between him and an Islamic State fighter to Canada's federal police force.
Last month, VICE Media fought the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) court-granted production order for national security reporter Ben Makuch's Kik instant messenger app chat logs, or screen shots of the chats, between him and Farah Shirdon.
The 22-year-old Calgary man allegedly left Canada in 2014 to fight alongside IS in Iraq and Syria. He was charged in absentia with six terrorism-related offences last September, after he was interviewed by Makuch and VICE CEO Shane Smith. He's still at large and the RCMP has issued a red notice through INTERPOL asking for his capture and return back to Canada.
The RCMP argued they needed Makuch's communications with Shirdon as evidence to prove their charges.
VICE fought the production order in court, arguing that police seizure of any journalist's records would violate press freedoms and set a dangerous precedent for journalism in Canada.
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Howard Levitt says no broadcaster in Canada will ever hire Jian Ghomeshi again

The Financial Post's legal guru Howard Levitt writes (excerpt):
"Is he employable? Not in a gig requiring that persona. And remember, he was not fired for anything involving the more-than-a-decade-old allegations of the three accusers in the recent criminal trial. He was fired because his sexual practices were antithetical to the CBC’s (and his own) brand and would cause the broadcaster considerable market damage if he had remained. The law permits employers to fire for cause employees who commit acts fundamentally antithetical to their brand.
"It is noteworthy that, while this criminal trial (and the upcoming one), advanced quickly, we have heard nothing from his union, which has the exclusive right to represent Ghomeshi in any dismissal case. I suspect — though I have no inside knowledge — that the union has not taken the case and will not."
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Wally Crowther dead at 92

Wally Crouter, who served as morning host of CFRB for 50 years, has died at age 92.
Crouter passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday according to the radio station, which is now known as NEWSTALK 1010.
Crouter was born on Aug. 5, 1923, in Lindsay, Ont., and joined CFRB on Nov. 1, 1946 after a brief stint with CHEX in Peterborough.
Over the course of a half-century, he became one of CFRB’s most famous broadcasters and the city’s top-rated morning host. “He was an icon in Toronto.
Whenever there was a big story, like Hurricane Hazel or the opening of the subway, Wally was there. Everyone listened and wanted to be on the Wally Crouter morning show,” said Mike Bendixen, the station’s program director.
“Decade after decade, Wally brought this comforting tone to his audience as he unpacked the day’s news. It was like listening to a family or friend.”
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